DANCE CLUBS JOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST ECSTASY

THE WA Government will target nightclubs in its latest battle in the
war against the illegal use and sale of ecstasy and related drugs.

WA Drug Abuse Strategy Office executive director Terry Murphy said
yesterday seven clubs had approached the Government to be part of the
campaign to prevent the use of psychostimulants and to reduce the harm
caused by them.

The office will work with all clubs over a year to try to reduce the
use of the drugs.

A national survey in 1998 revealed 3 per cent of 12 to 17-year-olds
used ecstasy in the past year, 5 per cent used amphetamines or speed
and 9 per cent used LSD.

Of people over 14 years, almost 4 per cent used LSD in the past year,
6 per cent used amphetamines and 5 per cent used ecstasy.

The first leg of the campaign, which started in March with the Phat
and Phunky concert in Northbridge, was a success with a survey of 300
14 to 24-year-olds revealing 75 per cent of them were aware of the
campaign. Seventy per cent found the advertising believable but only
25 per cent said they found the drugs less appealing.

Perth police district Chief Supt Ron Carey said city police had good
cooperation from Northbridge clubs and they provided intelligence on
the sale of drugs to police.

He said police were aware of venues considered by patrons to be "drug
clubs".

The campaign moves to Subiaco tomorrow with the Chunks of Funk event.
Professional and local DJs will perform and teenagers can rock up with
their skateboards to try out the ramp between 1pm and 6pm at Subiaco
Market Square.

Murdoch University student Sam Bettenay, 19, said he urged the local
drug action group to support an outdoor concert to give young people
something positive to do. As a DJ he was concerned that people did not
seem to be able to go clubbing without taking drugs. He said drugs
made them a lot less interactive.